Following their convictions for copyright infringement, Pirate Bay co-founders Gottfrid Svartholm and Fredrik Neij, former site spokesman Peter Sunde, and site financier Carl Lundström owed considerable amounts in damages.By February 2012 the total owed had reached 73 million kronor. Now, more than nine years after the now-infamous raid, it stands at 86 million kronor, or $10 million. Very soon the amount will be double the original damages award.

While all have now completed their custodial sentences (Svartholm technically has a few extra weeks), neither has paid back a single penny of the money owed. This hardly comes as a surprise. While Svartholm and Neij have been less vocal, on a number of occasions Peter Sunde has made it clear that the money will never be repaid.

The pirate bay folks said they did not have any money and it seems they have been telling the truth, the fines may as well have been billions or trillions, it seems being poor is the best defence against hollywoods cash-lust fuelled demands.